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Thursday, 14 July 2016

Ghostbusters Denied Release In China

Paul Feig's Ghostbusters may be enjoying some much needed positive press here in North America thanks to advanced screenings ahead of its July 15th release, but it sounds as though the second largest film market in the world won't be checking out the new film anytime soon.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Ghostbusters has been denied release in China.

China's official censorship guidelines technically prohibit movies that "promote cults or superstition" and the country is known for banning films that feature ghosts or supernatural beings in a semi-realistic way - like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chestback in 2006.

However, sources close to China Film Co. reveal that censorship wasn't the determinative issue.

"It's been confirmed that Ghostbusters won't be coming to China, because they think it's not really that attractive to Chinese audiences," says one Chinese executive. "Most of the Chinese audience didn't see the first and second movies, so they don't think there's much market for it here."
This isn't surprising given that the original Ghostbusters movies never screen in China either.

However, a Hollywood source with knowledge of the situation says the film hasn't even been officially submitted for approval by Chinese regulators yet.

In any case, it sounds like The Middle Kingdom will be passing on Ghostbusters once again.